His Banner Over Me...

Is Love.

That's what was in my mind after delivering Sarah.  So much to say, but that will suffice for now.

Here's a link to her baby pictues, taken about 6 hours after her arrival!

http://www.bellababyphotography.com/

password: 0117sarahanne

Mama and Her Firstborn

Meeting up with G-Gma and AJ

                                                                    

At Bass Pro Shop in Macon.  I love his coy smile and that mop of hair.

Jay and his baby girl

Manny!

                           

Mischief!

Magnets!

Day-in-Review

Jay and I played a game-  he runs and falls into my arms.  We "colored".  He spilled my drink on his shirt.  He knows where all snack items are kept.  His big boy bed is put together.  I took his baby pictures out of the nursery and hung a pink valence on the window.  We went to Sonny's and he ate fried okra.  He will only say 'Mommy' once in a blue moon.  But he takes after my love of okra.   10 days 'til baby Sarah is due. 

I'm in the push-pull of saying good-bye to Jay's babyhood and embracing his becoming a bigger boy.  He loves to say 'baby' and hug my belly.  He goes straight for Sarah's baby dolls if he can break into the room where her things are waiting to be put away.

The crib is being raised tomorrow and toddler bed experiments begin.  Change is a-comin'!

Cheese ball!

I have two New Year's food traditions: Black Eye Peas and a Cheese Ball.

Here's the recipe I used for the cheese ball from Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons Cookbook.

Strawberry Cheese Ring

16 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, grated

One 3 oz. package cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 small onion, chopped

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1/2 tsp. garlic salt or powder

Cayenne pepper to taste (omitted)

1 cup strawberry preserves

Ritz crackers

Combine all ingredients except preserves and crackers in a food processor or electric mixer. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Scoop mixture onto a platter and mold into a ring formation (place a sheet of wax paper between your hands and the mixture to prevent melting and stickiness). Spread strawberry preserves into the center of the ring and serve with crackers.
 
Sooo good!  I started making it last NYE.  If you like pimento cheese, you will like the spread.  It is easy to over indulge on this one!

 If you've never made black eye peas, it is extremely simple.  Buy a one pound bag and soak the dry peas overnight.  Drain and rinse peas.  Over with 6-8 cups of hot water and bring to a simmer.  I simmer it all day, adding more water.  I add boneless pork chops that have been cut into cubes about halfway through the day.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  This is NOT a good crock pot recipe; best to use the stove top.  Serve with cornbread and butter.  The peas and pork form a stew and I like to top with chopped, raw onion.  The stew is even better the next day.  The stew thickens in the fridge and is delicious reheated.

My mamasita taught us this recipe and it's a favorite for me and sis.  xxoo Mommie!

Christmas

Our Christmas pics. Mostly action shots.  We had a great times (as always) visiting family in Albany.  We drew names this year, but all bets are off for the kids.  So, we still hauled out a ton of beautiful presents.  Great food and conversation.

This was the first time in my adult life that I was the host for Christmas morning.  Alex very kindly did all the heavy work like mopping, scrubbing and vaccumming.  I did the fluff work and the cooking.  I had it all planned out, but still cut it close on defrosting the turkey.  So I cranked that baby up to 400 degrees.  The pan drippings started to smoke at the end of the cycle, so our mac and cheese had a subtle smoked turkey flavor.  The Caramel Nut Cheesecake (Caramel Nut Cheesecake for the recipe) went over big.  I was too tired to use the Christmas china at the big meal and used festive plastic plates that my sis graciously provided.  I am just too sore and big to care.

I hereby vow that I will honor Christmas in my heart and use paper plates if need be if it means enjoying the reason for the gathering--- being with family, remembering past memories and making new ones.  We did enjoy the Christmas Eve service at our own church.  Christmas Eve and Good Friday services are my favorite all year.  I was choked up at the opening multi-media slides.  Before the Lord's Supper or candle lighting.  So, yes, I enjoyed it.

Here's the pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=169284&id=562275959&l=08ba03f94f